Police ID man found dead on Aquebogue farm Friday

Police have identified the person who was found dead on an Aquebogue farm last Friday night as a man who lived close by and was involved in a car crash not far from his home earlier that same day.

According to Riverhead police, preliminary results of an investigation revealed that 52-year-old Robert Croghan was driving eastbound on Hubbard Avenue Friday morning when he crossed the intersection of Edgar Avenue and hit a snow bank, trees and a fence on Crescent Duck Farm.

Crescent Duck Farm president Douglas Corwin said he arrived at work about 5:30 a.m. that morning and didn’t notice any sign of a crash. It wasn’t until about 6:45 a.m. when another employee found a pickup truck crashed through the fence.

“They turned a little bit, but there was a good size [snow] bank there on the other side,” Mr. Corwin said. “The truck got caught on the fence … you can see he tried to go backward.”

Two trees, the fence there and a sign for a nearby deli were all damaged by the crash. Mr. Corwin said when he heard the news Friday about a being found nearby, he had speculated they might be connected.

“We kind of figured, you know, what are the chances?” he said. “I feel sorry. I don’t wish that on anybody.”

Police later received a call on Friday about 5:30 p.m., from the owner of Verderber Nursery, who said that a body had been found on a “farm road” on the property.

Assistant manager Bob Kublin said an employee at the nursery was cross-country skiing through the property after hours when he found the body. The victim appeared to have run into a holly tree, based on the cuts on his hands, Mr. Kublin said.

“Then it looks like he just lied down and went to sleep,” Mr. Kublin said.

Police said Mr. Croghan lived on Zion Street, which is located less than a mile away from the intersection of Edgar and Hubbard avenues.

The cause of Mr. Croghan’s death is still under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 727-4500, ext. 302.